Experts link-up in arthritis battle

Keele professor will co-lead new research group

- Sentinel Reporter

WORLD-LEADING expert Christian Mallen is pioneering new research to tackle the challenges faced by people living with arthritis.

The North Staffordshire professor is co-leading a consortium funded by a new £3m award from charity Versus Arthritis.

Christian, the executive dean in the faculty of medicine and health sciences at Keele University, will work alongside colleagues from Oxford, Manchester, Nottingham and Aberdeen universities.

The charity has brought together world-leading experts from five UK universities, to accelerate clinical epidemiology research which will help answer key questions from those living with arthritis.

The new research consortium is part of the charity's drive to harness 'team science' to better understand the causes and risk factors for arthritis and improve treatment options.

Epidemiology - the study of how diseases occur in different people and why - is critical to designing better and targeted interventions using data.